Page 22

APPENDIX B – GLOSSARY This section defines commonly used terms and acronyms. Appeal – A process for requesting a formal review of a prior UC decision. Appeal Hearing – A meeting to consider an Unemployment Compensation benefit appeal. Each party (you and the employer, in most cases) can tell an impartial hearing officer what they believe the relevant facts are related to the issue on appeal. You may have witnesses testify. You may ask questions of the other party. All testimony is given under oath. Base Period – The window of time used to determine UC benefit eligibility. At the time an initial claim for benefits is filed, wages from the first four of the last five completed calendar quarters are reviewed to determine UC benefit eligibility. Your Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) is also based on how much money you were paid for working during this time. Benefit Week – A seven-day period during which you have an active claim. The benefit week begins on Sunday at midnight and ends at 11:59 p.m. the following Saturday. Benefit Year – Also referred to as a Claim Year, this is the 52 weeks from the Claim Effective Date to the Claim End Date. Benefits – The money given to eligible individuals. Claim – An application for UC benefits. Claim Effective Date – The Sunday of the week in which your initial claim for benefits is filed. Claim End Date – Also referred to as a Benefit Year End (BYE), this is the last Saturday of a Benefit Year. This falls 52 weeks after the Claim Effective Date. Fraud – Knowingly claiming or accepting UC benefits illegally. Fraud may be considered a crime. Financial Eligibility – Having enough wages and weeks of work in your employment history to qualify for UC benefits. Full-time Work – Working the normal full-time hours for your usual work week. Gross Earnings – The amount of money you get for work before taxes and deductions are taken out. Net Earnings – Your take-home pay, after taxes and deductions are taken out. Maximum Benefit Amount (MBA) – The maximum amount of benefits you may receive during a benefit year. This amount is based on the wages earned in the Base Period of a claim multiplied by the number of benefit weeks you are eligible for within the Claim Year. This amount is listed in your Monetary Determination notice. Misconduct – Careless or deliberate behavior that results in being fired or suspended from your job. Examples include dishonesty related to employment, unexcused absences, or violation of a company policy. Monetary Determination – A form mailed to you after you file an initial claim for UC benefits. It explains if you are eligible for UC benefits, how much your payment will be each week, the Maximum Benefit Amount (MBA), and other details for that Claim Year. This form lists all employers you worked for during the Base Period and the wages each employer reported each quarter. Be sure to check it for accuracy and notify UCSC of any errors at 1-888-313-7284. Overpayment – UC benefits you received, but were not entitled to receive, under state law. Partial UC Benefits – The amount of UC benefits you may receive while working reduced hours (less than your typical full time work hours). Potential Earnings – The amount of wages you could have earned had you not been absent from work when work was available. Separation – When you or your employer end the working relationship. This can be due to a quit, discharge, leave of absence, suspension, or layoff. UC – Unemployment Compensation, which is the benefit program for workers who become unemployed through no fault of their own. Union Attached – An active union member who gets work through a union hiring hall. If you are on the out-of-work list, as verified by your union, you may be eligible for UC benefits by remaining available for work through your union. Waiting Week – The first week of the Benefit Year that you are unemployed and found eligible for benefits. You will not be paid UC benefits for this week. Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA) – The maximum amount of money you may be eligible to receive for one week. This amount is listed in your Monetary Determination notice. Pennsylvania Unemployment Compensation Handbook 21